Sefer HaMitzvos

מצות לא תעשה רצ״ט, ר״ע · מצות עשה ר״ב–ר״ג

Thursday, October 22, 2026 · Day 262 of 339

Negative Mitzvah 299

It is forbidden to offer misleading advice

Leviticus 19:14 "Nor shall you put a stumbling block before the blind"

It is unlikely that a person would purposely cause a blind person to fall!

However, this Negative Mitzvah implies more than that.

Blindness means not being able to see, but it does not only apply to the loss of eyesight.

A person who does not know certain things may also be considered "blind" - "unknowing" in those matters.

When he asks us for information and advice, we should give him the right answer. If we misguide him, he may do wrong, suffer a loss, make a mistake or fail.

The Torah cautions us never to cause another person to suffer because of bad advice or instructions that we give them. We must be careful and try to guide the person correctly and properly.

Positive Mitzvah 202

Unloading the Burden from a Tired Animal

Exodus 23:5 "If you see the donkey of your enemy lying under its burden...you shall surely unload it with him"

This Positive Mitzvah is an act of kindness which a person would normally do when confronted with a helpless animal suffering from a heavy load.

The Torah insists that even if the animal's owner is someone we aren't particularly friendly with, or even dislike, we must help them.

Positive Mitzvah 203

Lifting the Burden from an Animal whose Load has Fallen

Deuteronomy 22:4 "You shall surely help him lift it (the load) up again"

In addition to unloading the burden from a fallen animal (see Positive Mitzvah 202), we must also help the owner rearrange the load on the animal.

We are commanded to help him tie the load on again and enable him to continue his journey.

Negative Mitzvah 270

It is forbidden to refrain from helping a person in need of assistance

Exodus 23:5 "You shall not refrain from helping him

Helping a person in time of need is not just an act of kindness, it is also one of the commandments of the Torah.

If we see a person or an animal in need of assistance, we must help him.

Positive Mitzvah 202 commands us to unload a burden from a person or animal which has fallen under this burden. This Negative Mitzvah forbids us from leaving him helpless.